Using a Mac
This Mac thing is just a phase. Between the dominance of Windows and the energy of the open source desktops, it's hard to believe it will last. The Mac is worst when trying to use cross platform software - Java, Firefox, etc all have display glitchces and there is a lack of consistency in how keys work.
And who doesn't love transitions? In order to use Macromedia Breeze, I have to run my browser in Rosetta mode. But Java won't work in Rosetta mode, so I have to reconfigure for different web sites. Think different, all right.
Nice hardware though - assuming it wears well.
The following are some notes on trying Mac OS X on a Macbook Pro.
Software
software essentials
VLC - http://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-macosx.html - Isn't it cheesy how Quicktime only shows video in a tiny window, and Microsoft doesn't provide a media player for the Mac anymore? This player plays almost anything, with full resizing.
NeoOffice - http://www.neooffice.org/ - Mac OS port of OpenOffice
AdiumX - http://www.adiumx.com/ - multi protocol instant messager
Mercury Messenger - http://www.mercury.to - currently eval'ing, cross-platform Java based IM client with video and screen cap support - Adium had issues with group chats, isn't cross platform, and I want to get into video more. But MM seems kinda flaky and is currently closed source :(
Virtue - http://virtuedesktops.info/ - virtual desktops - a few glitches but decent
Shell - Built in ;) - but iTerm - http://freshmeat.net/redir/iterm/49825/url_homepage/iterm.sourceforge.net - is more featureful
Note the lack of Camino, "Firefox for the Mac." I don't get it. Sure, it uses the Mac's native interface, and feels faster, but it is lacking in so many ways - no search in history, no inline page search, a whole new set of keyboard shortcuts that relate to nothing else - that I can barely stand using it. Thank heaven Firefox is available for the Mac.
other required software
parallels - http://www.parallels.com/ - if you need to run windows for testing, as well as having a Linux 'sidekick' OS for self contained server work. However, it is slow to start up and crashes.
- I installed Win2k since I had it lying around. Basic install, update, no usage. Noticed it was acting funny. Run the MS Malicious Software Removal Tool and it has over 1000 infected files. Go Windows.
google earth - the most interesting way to view the earth
Best Shortcuts
Amusingly, the Mac has some of the most complicated and inconsistent keyboard shortcuts ever invented.
Type a directory location
- in the finder, and saving files using the default open/save dialog
Cmd-Shift G
Copy screenshot to clipboard
Cmd-control-shift-4 - press space if you want to switch to the "window" camera, then use the mouse to select your capture area.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=75459 - apple's list of shortcuts - how to drag a window from anywhere, like using alt + mouse on a nix type system? Oh, there's an add on for it, http://homepage.mac.com/tconkling/windowdragon which requires another add on. Standard feature in most *x display kits.
Peeves
The beachball, lollipop, whatever you want to call the spinning colour wheel thing. Hello? At least have it tell us what's going on - have a mini memory graph or something useful so people can focus on the problem, not just pretend its some cosmic event. It also seems to me the Mac is resource inefficient compared to Linux, I run the same programs but see more slowdowns.
Different dialogues, including in Apple software, work differently. For example, a dialog window may require hitting ok/apply, may just be closed, or may require confirmation after closing. Different icon sets too, mail.app looks nothing like other dialogs. Keys like esc and delete don't work consistently either.
- An article on UI that pointed out how valuable edges are - so much easier to "select" than any screen area (since when you overshoot you've still got it) - really turned me onto the sensibilites of a good UI design. So why, then, are the shortcuts for ejecting a CD and opening the insipid Front Row located in these key positions? (the latter is miskeyed when using the switch-between-windows key)
- Cursor keys - different combinations in every app. Why?
- The whole keyboard muddle makes switching between operating systems especially frustrating.
- Frustratingly, the guideline of there being "no maximized windows" is upheld in apps such as firefox, where you can't "press f11 for full screen mode."
- Speaking of function keys... what the #($((#*?
- There's a limit of ten connections to your host for file sharing, for more you have to buy an add-on. This kind of thing makes me want to run screaming, cause you know its going to bite you at the oddest times (say being at an event and wanting to share a file, sure everyone, just go here, oh wait...)
The Mac culture is very oriented towards shareware.. as a friend pointed out, you can do anything on a Mac, as long as you're willing to collect a bunch of $10 apps to do it. This is reflected by the fact that open source apps are often called "freeware" on mac portals. What a horrible way to exist, towing around a collection of constantly out of date helpers to do every day stuff.
Looking forward to
Neat idea: http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20060823112947376
Mac's a second class citizen when it comes to things like Java support. Oh, Apple tries to deny it by saying they have an "enhanced" Java with support for their platform only goo, but that's missing the point for a cross platform language.
- https://bugs.eclipse.org/bugs/show_bug.cgi?id=145890 (http://www.myeclipseide.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=12464&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=15)
- Decent power management/external screen support for Linoox